Samuel Barber's contribution to twentieth-century violoncello literature

Abstract

This paper has presented a comprehensive overview of the context and significance of Samuel Barber’s contribution to the twentieth-century violoncello repertoire. Barber’s two works for solo violoncello, the Sonata for Violoncello and Piano No. 1, Op. 38 and Concerto for Violoncello and Orchestra in A minor, Op. 22, were the first pieces of note written for the medium by an American composer. Their historical significance, in addition to their roles as a bridge between music from the Romantic Era to 20th-Century composition styles make both compositions invaluable to the violoncello literature. In this paper, the Cello Sonata and Cello Concerto are analyzed for connections to previous compositions for the instrument as well as Samuel Barber’s individual compositional practices. Both pieces are then discussed in terms of critical reception and importance to the continuation of including the pieces in the standard violoncello repertoire.